It takes one second for your life to change

you go to buy a pizza for your kid and your body becomes rearranged

You learned you were trying to help a screaming mother

and a ninety-year-old man ran his car into your son and daughter

This had a rippling effect pushing your car to run you over

you wake up in a hospital needing a total makeover

The only thing you can use is your eyes

what do you mean doctor I almost died.

Why can’t I move or talk

all I remember is nothing but poppycock.

I was told I was in a ten-day coma and may never walk

My mother said Oh Dr. can we talk

Oh, you don’t know my daughter

She’s going to take that weakness and become stronger

I had to learn everything again like a newborn

This struggle has truly made me take the bull by the horns

My goal was very simple from the beginning

I was going to go home forgiving

But first I had to learn how to go back to my basics

After that I will go home nothing but gracious

This journey is not for the faint hearted

but the best thing is I am not unsupported

From beginning to end

I have this to recommend

Find out what is truly important

or your life in a second will become discordant

Tonya Louise

East Lyme

Poetry in a Pandemic offers local readers a chance to share their poetry written during or related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. To contribute, email times@theday.com.